Indexing and escapement mechanism



May 4, 1954 C. A. PARKER INDEXING AND ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 14. 1949 INVENTOR.

Charles fl. Par/fer Y B we e m L Q W o5 MK.-

M, g. w 1| n .WN I. :.V N .m 2 m \N wk R \N May 4, 1954 c. A. PARKER mnsxmc AND ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14, 1949 INVENTOR. [bar/es A. Parker HTTORN Y.

w w I I May 4, 1954 c. A. PARKER 2,677,493

INDEXING AND ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM Filed June 14, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N V EN TOR. C'fiar/es J]. Par Ker y 4, 1954 c. A. PARKER 2,677,498

INDEXING AND ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM Filed June 14, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I N VEN TOR. Charles /I. Par/1' er v /QB HTTORNEY.

May 4, 1954 C..A. PARKER 2,677,498

INDEXING AND ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM Filed June 14, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEN TOR. Charles .A'. Par/(er wyaw HTTORNEK Patented May 4, 1954 INDEXING AND ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM Charles A. Parker, Knoxville, Tenn., assignor to Rainey Accounting Machine Company, 1110.,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 24 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to mechanical movements involving a member movable in response to a bias, and escapement mechanism for imparting step-by-step movement thereto, in which the escapement is operated from one or more actuators. It is designed to procure high speed operation by utilizing the energy of the biasing means to take over and operate the escapement, and to recondition it for subsequent operation, independently of an actuator immediately following the motivation of that actuator.

At present, the major utility of the invention appears to be in the art of accounting machines, although it is by no means intended to be limited thereto. Accounting machines in this specification and in the claims is employed in a generic sense; the term applies to calculating machines, bookkeeping machines, typewriting machines, and all related devices.

The present disclosure deals with an embodiment of the invention as employed in an accountmg machine utilizing calculating mechanism of the ten key type. In a calculating machine of this type, in conventional practice, a numeral key is depressed by an operators finger to set a pin in a stop pin box and at the same time to operate an escapement through which the pin box or other pin locating means is permitted to shift for positioning pins of the following row relative to the setting means. The pin setting means presents an obstruction to pins of the following row, which must be removed before the pin box shifts. This removal is accomplished during the upward movement of the depressed key.

The esoapement must be held ineffective until the setting means obstruction clears the path of travel of the following row pin. This means that the operators finger must be raised to near the full, or to the full, upward position in order to complete a step movement of the stop pin box and permit proper operation of the next numeral key. Thus, from an operators listing of amounts, each digit requires a complete down and up movement of the finger for each numeral key, whether struck in sequence or in repetition. In machines in which the operators finger movement is the major factor limiting speed, efiiciency has a direct r lation to muscular control because the physical speed with which an operator can index or enter an item for addition or subtraction depends upon his ability to depress and raise his finger for each key. The present invention eliminates physical finger lifting ability as a governing factor in the operation of calculating machines, and makes possible the indexing of calculating machines at the fast key strike speeds attainable by an expert operator on typewriting machines.

An object of the invention is to provide means for greatly increasing the speed with which the numeral keys of a calculating machine can be operated to enter or index items into the machine.

It is also an object to provide an escapement control for accounting machines, in which the energy of an element moving in response to operation of the escapement is utilized for resetting the escapement immediately following its operation.

A further object is to provide an escapement control mechanism in which energy derived from a member having step-by-step movement at each operation of the escapement is utilized to condition the escapement for an immediate subsequent operation before the moving member has completed a full step following operation of the escapement.

Another object is to provide an improved stop pin box escapement mechanism for calculating machines in which an escapement release rocker is tripped by actuation of a universal element, wherein the energy of a member moving as a result of the rocker tripping is utilized to disengage the rocker from its tripping means for immediate resetting of the rocker and operation of the escapement without regard to the position of the universal element.

Another object is to provide an improved structure and arrangement of stop pin box and pin etting means in cooperation therewith.

Further objects include the provision of novel stop pin retaining and mounting means.

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is an elevation of an embodiment of the invention as incorporated in the stop pin box and escapement mechanism of a ten key calculating machine.

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation of the lever mounting plate of the pin setting means shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is substantially a top plan view with respect to Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the pin setting means and the escapement universal.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a rear elevation with respect to Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a section on line 3-8 of Figure 1. Figure 9 is a section on line 99 of Figure 3. Figure 10 is a section similar to Figure 9 illustrating the position of the parts in a pin setting Figure 12 is a perspective view of a stop pin e plate.

Z'J'L'ODLJSOD. by the projected elements. pr-

of stop 13 ...5 carried by a n" agency jecto: a range to move a universal element which an. escapeinent to impart step-byst .niiting movement to the pin mountoieniber, which moves in reqaonse to a bias "-gister he pins of a following row with the oi ctors. Tripping of the escpement efiects in'tial movement of the pin mounting memer. During this initial moveme .t means is operated by the energy of the mount moving to take over control of the escapement and immediately release it for a full step move- :nent of the pin mount, independently of the manual actuators and the universal element. This action is accomplished, and the escapement is reset, before the motivated actuator, which has cycle movement, ar.:ives at the end of its first --alf cycle. Energy of the pin mount during shifting movement is utilized to remove actuated Zectors from the path of following row pins,

.naf the pin setting means reconditioned for :1 detail, the invention comprises a member to, here shown as a stop pin box mounting the requisite number of stop pins 56, movable in response to the biasing pull of a contractile motor- 5'! connected between a point of an-- e on the bottom of the pin box and point anchorage on an escapernent frame Hi that is supported on an up 'ight i9 fixed on the base plate 2'? or machine in v. in the mechanism l The escapement frame is substantially of known design, having a p of upright ears 2i carrying trunnions '32 which pivot between th'in a dog rocker 23 substantially of the struct shown in U. Patent No. 1,512,600 of October 21, 1924. The B00581 carries a pivoted dog 24- and a rigid dog 25 arranged in drop space relation for alternate holding engagement with the teeth of an escapezn nt wheel 26. The limber dog is stepped by a contractile spring 23' on each disengagement from the wheel. A. contractile spring connected between the rocker and the escapernent fra he biases the rocker normally to a limit position in which the liinber dog is engaged with a tooth of the esc percent wheel.

2 fixed to the escapernent frame overlies rocker and determines its limit position. When the rocker is moved against the tension of the spring 28 to its opposite limit position contacting the escapement frame, the rigid dog 25 moves to engage the wheel tooth freed by the limber dog.

escapement wheel 25 forms part oi movable with and by the pin box 5. in

onse to its bias. The wheel is rotatable on ertical axis at the upper end or" supporting post 36 that is secured to the machin base phte and which may be a part the escapenient frame. A pinion 3! loose on the axis of thv escapement wheel meshes with a rack bar 2 attached to the pin box at one side thereof. is shown in Figure 8, the wheel 25 carries a p oton dog 33 on its under face yieldingly enga the pinion teeth by a biasing spring 34, the wheel is driven by the rack bar 11 vancing pin-locating movement or" t. e but not when the box is returned in the direction. A spring finger 35 mounted end on the escapement frame has its I1 detent relation to the teeth of te wheel to check it against retrograde 1120 Due to the drop spacing of the rec escapeinent wheel, and conseque it;

, ordinarily is permitted a slight each time the rocker is trippea iinher dog 2 otherwise sta rocker tripped the pin box I pull or its motor spring ll until engagement of the dog 2 escapement wheel tooth which was movement by the limber dog when ro ed out of engagement with the tooth. When 1e escapernent is released to rock back to un ripped position; that is, When the rigid dog is case-ngaged from the position to be contacted by the "i of the escapement wheel, the pin boz: then the for move one full step, and the following too When this occurs the escapeinent is reset for subsequent operation.

ent, to free the escapes-lent from aii ator 6% or T3 before the wheel tooth di this invention, the rigid dog set by t of the escapment has already been moved 0 th t tooth arrives at the point at inent wheel, and consequently the tinues without interruption through a movement. Tripping of the esccpement rocker is accomplished by the nanipi any of a plurality of actuator instrui en shown this embodiment pull w t e numeral keys of the machine, one oshown as a manually depressible key igure 15.

The pin setting means comprises a unit ser on the base plate 20 beneath the pin box-1 5* providing a support on which the pin box 5 t consists of a frame having a front and a rear side piece 33 in end at side piece 38 of the Setting means frame. Slide bearing sleeves 42 carried by the pin box on its front side engage a guide rod 4-3 that extends longitudinally between the uprights 39 above the frame front side piece 37 so that the sleeves and bearing roller provide plural point support for the pin box.

A shaft 44 extends transversely across the pin setting unit between its front and rear side pieces and provides a fulcrum mount on which are pivoted a series of rocker members 45. These rocker members are flat plates which pivot on the shaft M to rock or oscillate in a vertical plane.

members correspond in number to the numeral keys of the machine in which the unit is mounted. Each rocker 45 normally is held in the position illustrated in Figure 9 by means of a contractile spring i6 attached at one end to a point of anchorage on the rocker and at its other end to a point of anchorage on a mounting block 41 secured on the base plate of the setting unit. Each rocker has a vertical edge substantially at right angles to a horizontal bottom edge, and the fulcrum of the rocker lies in the vertical portion. The bottom edge of the rocker normally seats against the base of the machine and determines the limit position of rest for the rocker under the bias or" its spring 46. A pull wire 48, one for each rocker, has pivotal connection at one end with a lateral stud 49 on the rocker and at its other end it is in pivotal connection as 58 with an individual bell crank lever 55 that is pivoted for horizontal oscillation in the front side piece 31 of the pin setting unit frame.

Each bell crank lever 5| has one arm pivotally connected to the associated pull wire 43 and its other arm is pivotally connected with the rear end of its associated actuator 36. As the structure of the bell crank levers 5! is substantially identical except for arm lengths and location, it is not considered necessary to refer to each lever by a different descriptive numeral. The levers are given the general designation 5|. These levers, except for that of the numeral 9 key, are arranged in groups. side, with respect to Figures 2, 3 ands, is super imposed on a common pivot 52 mounted in the front side piece 31 of the unit frame. The group on the left hand side is disposed on a common pivot lit also mounted in the frame side piece,

but the group at the left is reversed with respect to the right hand group for obvious reasons. way of illustration, it is pointed out that in this embodiment of the invention the bell crank in connection with the actuator 36 at the extreme right in Figures 3 and l is that of the zero key, while the one second from the right is that of the numeral 9 key. This arrangement may be altered as the keys may be disposed in any desired manner.

Each rocker member 45 carries thereon a relatively movable interponent 54. In this embodiment of the invention the interponent consists of fiat finger pivoted as at 55 on the side of its associated rocker to swing in the plane of the rocker. The shank of the finger extends up wardly above the top of the setting unit frame in slightly spaced relation below the bottom ends of the series of pins to mounted in the pin box. upper end of the finger has a rounded tip and its shank portion is formed with a latch shoulder 57. that normally underlies the adjacent end portion of a universal plate 58 which at its other end is secured to a mounting element 59 extended transversely between the frame side pieces The group at the right hand 3! and 38 and pivotally supported therein to rock in a vertical plane. The series of interponents 54 is disposed through slots 60 extending longitudinally in the universal plate. These slots provide guides in which the fingers play in their stop pin projecting action. Each finger 54 has a heel portion BI that provides a point of attachment for one end of a contractile spring 62 which is anchored to the unit frame at its opposite end. The spring 62 provides a bias normally holding the interponent finger in a vertical position in engagement against the end of the slot in the universal plate. By reason of the presence of the shoulder 51, each interponent is adapted to engage and carry up with it the end of the universal plate whenever the rocker memher for that interponent is actuated in an indexing operation. This indexing actuation is shown in Fig. 10, in which the rocker member has been rocked to lift the interponent to engage and elevate its registered stop pin in the stop pin box.

An extension 63 secured to the universal plate 58 has an integral downwardly directed arm 6t disposed beyond the adjacent end of the setting unit frame, as best shown in Fig. 6. At its lower end this arm 64 has operative connection by means of a pull wire 65 with the lower end of a bell. crank lever 56 that is adapted for oscillation in a vertical plane on a fulcrum 61 that is carried in a supporting element 68 of the escapement rocker frame E9. The long arm 69 of the bell crank lever '66 extends horizontally into the region of the escapement rocker and at its free end is formed with an upwardly directed portion ill that terminates in a laterally directed tip ill. The lower edge of the tip ll overrides and engages a lug l2 mounted on one end of a lever l3 that is pivoted as at M intermediate its ends on the plate of the escapement dog rocker. The oppoend of the lever l3 has a tip that is nor mally retained in contact with a tooth of the escapement wheel 26 by a biasing spring. Also iulcrumed on the pivot 14, and immediately overlying the lever '13, is a second lever 18. A contractile spring ll extending between a point of anchorage on the lever 16 and a point of anchorage on the lever is normally tends to draw the adjacent ends of the two levers together. The free end of the lever 16 has a downturned tip 78 which normally is held against another tooth of the escapement wheel 2% by the biasing action of the spring H. The free end of the second lever ii underlies the engaging tip '19 of the horizontal arm 8% of a second bell crank lever that also is iulcrumed on the pivot 51 alongside the lever 39. The bottom end of the short arm 8% of this second bell crank lever 80 has operating connection by means of a pull wire 8! with an arm of the bell crank lever 5| for the numeral 9 key. A con-- tractile spring 80a between the lever arm 89' and a fixed element of the machine biases the lever in its normal position.

Normally, both the universal plate connected lever 69 and the numeral 9 key lever 86 are engaged at their free end terminal portions with the respective levers l3 and 16 that are pivoted ior rocking movement on the dog rocker escape-- merit plate. In consequence, when either lever is rocked on its fulcrum by upward tilting of the universal plate or by actuation of the numeral. 9 key bell crank, the corresponding downward movement of the levers and escapement rocker plate trips the escapement to carry its limber dog out of engagement with the tooth of the escapement wheel.

As soon as this tripping of the escapemen, occurs the escapement wheel turns slightly through the drop. as previously described, under the bias of the pin box shifting which in this instance is the motor spring IT. This slight rotation of the escapement wheel is evidenced immediately in the ca-mming action of the wheel teeth against the ends of the l vers T3 and 75 which rock on their pivots against the bias of their intermediate spring ll. lhis roclring movement, although slight, is suficient to disengage these levers from the holding down action of the terminal portions of the bell cranks E355 and. 86, so that the escapement dog rocker is immediately freed for movement under the action of its biasing spring to free its rigid dog and to permit a full step shifting movement of the stop pin box. As previously described, this freeing of the tripped escapement dog rocker takes place under the energy of the pin box shifting means and during the initial downward movement of whatever key has been struck to enter an item in the machine.

During downward movement of the motivated key, its associated pin setting unit bell crank 5i operates to swing the associated rocker to t fulcrum to project its interponent 54 up into contact with the lower end of a registering pin in the pin box whereby the pin is pushed upwardly into its appropriate set position. In moving upwardly the interponent lifts the universal plate is held in latched engagement thereth by the action of the biasing spring 62. In this position of the parts, as shown in 1G, .e interponent is in obstruction relation to fol.-

.-wing pins of the row in which a pin has been cored to set position by the rising movement of e interponent. As soon as the pin box shifts, which occurs almost immediately following setof the pin, the next adjacent iollowin pin ow engages against the upstanding interonent and rocks it on its pivot 55 downwardly, indicated in Fig. 11, until it has been moved out of pin obstructing position. This rocking movement of the interponent under the cainining action of a following pin releases the latch shop: er 57 from its engagement with the universal late an allows the plate to drop down to norial position under the urge of the biasing spring connected between the lever 68 and a point or anchorage on a frame element. The interponent is thus moved out or" the path of the fol lowing pins so that the pin box is free to complete its shifting movement. Further downward retracting movement of the interponent is at the rate of movement of its carrier rocker 45 inder the bias of its own retracting spring Us movement occurs during the second half cycle of key movement in its up stroke and is relatively much slower than the speed at which the interponent is moved out of its obstructing position. Following disengagement of the ir rponent latch, the biasing spring 52 returns the interponent to its normal position with the latch shoulder disposed beneath the front end of the universal plate.

a rectangular frame having front and rear side plates and transversely extended end plates. The box is closed at its top by a plate 8'3 and at its bottom by a plate 85. These plates are of metal stock that is milled from its opposite faces to provide longitudinal channels 88 in one face and transversely extended identical channels 3? in its ther face. These channels are grooves of rectangular cross section and their depth is such that they meet in the median plane of the plate thus provide the appropriate number of rectangular guide apertures 88 through the body of the plate. The stop pins l6 have upper end extensions !Sd which reciprocate through the guide apertures in the top plate and have similar lower end extensions lEb which reciprocate through the guide apertures in the bottom plate. The lower ends of the stop pins have foot portions 60 for engagement by the registering interponents of the pin setting unit. The central portion of each stop pin is laterally enlarged to provide a hearing face that is frictionally engaged at each side of the pin by a series of spring fingers 89. These spring fingers are substantially of comb structure arranged in divergent relation so that they bear resiliently against the adjacent face of the stop pins and provide a frictional grip which holds the pins in the positions to which they are moved by the action. of the pin setting means. When the pin box is returned to it original posiion following an indexing operation the proected pins ride beneath the usual depresser plate which forces the pin down into their original positions in the pin box.

The rack bar 32 has rigidly secured thereto bracket 5!! provided with a contact lug 92 that engages the limber dog 24 when the stop pin box arrives at the extreme limit of its shifting movement during maximum capacity index an item. This engagement prevents stepping he li ber and maintains it in proper po ion to reengage the tooth of the escapement wheel 25 from which it would be disengaged if an extra actuation were given the escapeinent.

At its right hand end the rack bar has opering connection by means of a. link. with a storing lever 94. This lever 9:3 opera s in returning the pin box to its original position and also in moving the pin box for destroying an item. It is actuated by conventional means, not shown. The pin box is provided its rear face with an extension 95 which. provides a pivot for one end of the conventional stop slide lever 98. A biasing spring ST connected between Point of anchorage on the rear face of the pin box and a heel. 8 of the slide stop lever normally urges e lever 95 into its upper operative position as movement under the bias of its motor which tends to pull the box toward the left Upon the striking of any digit key in an indexing operation the associated actuator 38 exerts pull on its connected bell crank lever which, in turn, operating through its connection it, rocks tl e connected pin setting rocker 45 to elevate its interponent 54 through the universal plate slot so that the rounded tipv of the interponent forcibly strikes against the foot of its registering pin hex stop Hi. This upward movement of the interponent is a quick strike that propels the stop pin forcibly upward to its extreme upper limit shown in Fig. 11. The momentum. of the action carries the stop pin upwardly above the tip of the interponent. At the same time the lat-oh shoulder 5'! on the interponent elevates the end of the universal plate 58 which rocks on its pivot to exert a pull on the connecting wire 65. This wire correspondingly rocks its connected bell crank lever 66 on the fulcrum t! which correspondingly depresses the long arm 69 of the bell crank lever which, at its terminal portion 1!, overlies and engages the lug l2 of the pivoted lever T3 that is carried by the dog rocker plate. This action depresses the dog rocker plate against the action of its biasing spring and disengages the limber dog, whereupon the escapement wheel turns.

The initial movement of the escapement wheel as car-1s the lever l3 so that it rocks on its pivot 74 to disengage its lug "F2 from beneath the overrid end of the actuator lever l I. This release immediately enables the pull of the dog rocker biasingspring it to become effective to rock the rocker plate 23 back to its original limit position whereby the escapement wheel is permitted a full step turn until its following tooth is engaged by the stepped limber dog. This full step movement is imparted to the pin box. This action releasing the escapement for a full step shift of the pin box following the tripping takes place under the Lgy of the pin box motor spring I l and before the notivated digit key has reached the end of its down stroke. In the case of the numeral 9 key t operation is the same except that the long a 3d of its associated. actuator is operated through the pull wire 8| instead of through the universal plate. In this case the lever 15 is rocked on its pivot "i l by cam action of wheel 26 on ear to disengage the tip Id of the lever arm 89 and thereby to free the escapement from action of .rm til for a full step shift of the pin box.

.1 any one of the interponents i is proto set a pin in the pin box it occupies the 11 shown in Fig. in obstructing relation following pins of that row in which a pin has As shown in Fig. 11, the immediately g pin moving with the pin box engages .inst the shank of the interponent and cams it downwardly about its pivot against the bias of spring until it has been moved out of the 1 of the following pin. This action of the in releases the universal plate latch and l as 11..)13 universal plate to return to its initial position. The interponent is thereafter restored to its initial position by the returning movement 'ts rocker ib under the pull of its biasing spring 1g position has already, in its initial portion, resulted in releasing the escapement as pre vicusly described, so that it is reset for another operation. This resetting is accomplished by the time the h of the projected interponent is disuniversal plate has not completed its drop after being disengaged by the latch of the preceding interponent; otherwise stated, a second key may be depressed to effect another full indexing and shift of the pin box by the time the preceding key starts its upstroke back to initial position. This is also possible for a third and all keys subsequently struck, for the universal plate may be rocked upwardly by any interponent at any instant following disengagement of the plate by the latch of an immediately preceding elevated interponent. Thus, not only is speed obtained in presenting another row of stop pins for setting, but

also because consecutive settings of pins in the following rows can take place from other key actions or interponents before or during the time previously projected interponents are returning to their initial normal position.

This invention contemplates within its purview the use of any known type of escapement capable of effecting a step-by-step movement of a member that moves in response to a bias upon operation of the escapement. The specific escapement shown is by way of example only, for compliance with statutory requirements, and is not restrictive.

Another highly important feature of the invention is that of escapement control from the member movable under a bias in response to operation the escapement. In the present embodiment, upward rocking of the universal 58 trips the escapement and eifects the initial drop movement of the escapement wheel and pin box. Energy derived from the pin box motor spring, acting through the escapement wheel and the levers it and E6 on the dog rocker, is employed to free the dog rocker for a full step movement of the pin box. It may be desirable in some installations to dispense with the dog rocker mounted levers it and it and to free the escapement by action of the universal member. In such case the two levers may be entirely removed from the dog rocker plate or they may be uncoupled from their biasing spring Ti and moved to a position in which they are out of engagement with the escapement wheel teeth and also the tip ii and the tip it) of the respective bell cranks connected to the universal and to the numeral 9 key action. These tips TI and 19 are then adapted to engage directly against the rocker plate for direct operation of the dog rocker.

With the parts thus arranged, or with another design of escapement instead of that here shown, the operation of the escapement is under the control of the universal element. This element is motivated through the intermediary or" a driving connection from any actuator with which it is associated. The driving connection from each actuator includes means for returning it to initial condition following depression of the actuator, in accordance with conventional practice. Instead of relying upon the action of the returning means to recondition the universal for a following actuation thereof, this invention utilizes the energy of the pin box moving means to recondition the universal element for a following actuation.

When the universal, here shown as the plate 59, is lifted by any of the interponents {if to op erate the escapement, the latch of the interponent is disengaged from the plate by the camrning action of a following pin almost immediate- 1y after the pin box begins to move, so that the plate is again in condition for actuation by another interponent, as previously described. It will be apparent that in the practice of this invention reconditioning of the universal is effected far more rapidly than is possible in conventional practice. As the escapement is operated upon each actuation of the universal, it follows that it also may be operated far more rapidly than is possible in conventional practice.

Operation of the escapement to effect a full step movement of the stop pin box, followed by an immediate reconditioning of the escapement for a subsequent operation by depression of the same or another key, makes it possible for an operator to use both hands and at the same speed and rhythm at which typewriter keys are struck.

Another factor making possible such high speed operation is the control of the escapement by two relatively widely separated instrumentallties working individually or in unison under force transmitted from the main motoring spring i? that biases the pin box. One is the camming of the levers E3 and it by the escapement wheel, and the other is the camming of the interponents 5A following pins in the pin box. Whichever Works the faster upon the depression of a key is the one that reconditions the escapement for subsequent operation. Neither is dependent upon the other.

I claim:

1. in combination, a member movable in response to a bias, an escapement element normally obstructing said movable member in a manner to permit step-bystep movement thereof during each operation of the escapement mechanism, an actuator for operation of the so mechanism, a driving connec on between said actuator and the escapement to operating the latter in down stroke of t actuator, and means operative by said men in the course of its initial movement to relea the esoapement from its actuator thereby ii the escapement to be returned. independent the actuator to its original position or" size. nient while the member is permitted to full step movement in response to its 1 2. In combination, a member movable in response to a bias, an escapement for imparting step-by-step movement thereto, a plurality of manually selective depressible actuators, a universal element operative from any one of the actuators during its down stroke, a d 'iving connection between u iversal element and the escapeinent for operating the latter in the down stroke of an actuator, the escapement including means effecting an initial movement of the menu ber upon operation of the escapement, neans operative by said member in the course or its initial movement to effect release Oi any or the actuators from their driving connection with the universal element to permit independent return movement of the escapement mechanism independent of the actuator while the down-stroke position of any depressed actuator is maintained whereby a full step movement of said member can result in response to its bias.

3. In combination, a member movable in response to a bias, an escapenient mechanic; or imparting step-by-step movement thereto and including a pair of stops adapted to engage said member and. alternately movable bodily out of engagement therewith, a plurality of actuators, a universal element operative from one of the actuators, stop driving means between the universal element and the stops movable by oper ation of the universal element to disengage an engaged stop, and means operative by said biased member moving in response to its bias for releasing said stop driving means from between said. universal element and said escapement to per mit return of said escapement mechanism independent of said universal element and to return said stop to engaging position.

4. In an accounting machine having a carriage provided with rack means, a means for moving the carriage and an escapement therefor including a pair of dogs adapted to engage an e1ement of the rack means alternately in carriage arresting relation; an actuator common to both dogs for moving same simultaneously and means operative by energy of the carriage moving means 12 to effect release of the dogs from their actuator when one dog is moved for rack engagement of the other dog.

In an accounting machine, a carriage; an escapement therefor including a dog rocker, a spring normally holding the rocker against move ment, and an escapcment Wheel, spring means for constantly urging said wheel for movement in one direction; a member pivoted on the rocker and biased into camming engagement with the escapement Wheel: a depressible key, means operated by the key during its down stroke to engage the rocker-carried member to rock and hold the dog rocker against the tension of its spring; and said member having an extension to contact said Wheel and pivot by the camining action of the escapement wheel during initial movement to disengage the key operated means to release the rocker.

6. In an accounting machine, a carriage; an escapeinent mechanism therefor including aroclcer having a liinber dog and a rigid. dog in drop space relation, a spring normally holding the rocker against movement, and a toothed escapement Wheel adapted to be alt rnately engaged by the dogs; a member -ed by and movable on the dog rocker; an actuator engageable with member for rocking and hoiding the dog rocker against the tension or" its spring; and said member having cooperative caniming engagement With a tooth or the escapeinent Wheel whereby, as the wheel turns through i. In an accounting machine, a plurality of actuators, a member biased to move in response to the manipi. es cement mechanism biased to a horn box and a pin setting unit, one being shiftab relative to the other, motor means for eiiectin shift therebetween, member movable in setting unit in response to inde ng operation, spring normally holding the member against movement, an interponent movable on said menu bar and bodily movable thereby during its lllfiiil' in operation to a position in obst tion to a row of pins in the pin boa C-O ang and set a pin in that row, a spring normally ho ing the interponent disposed in pin engageable position, and means mounting said interponent on said member whereby to enable inte"- ponent upon contact by an element of the box for movement out of the line of following ins in the row during a shift between the pin box and the pin setting unit and before the me1nher on which the interponent is carried returns to its normal spring-held position of the path of the pins.

9. In a machine having operating elements and an escapement rack operating member adapted to'be successively displaced by predetermined increments upon actuation of said operating elements, an escapement mechanism operatively connecting each of said operating elements with said rack operating member to enable displacement thereof upon actuation of said operating element, means responsive to initial displacement of said operating member to enable return of the escapement mechanism to its original position of adjustment independent of said operating elements and rack operating member, means constantly urging said escapement mechanism toward its original position of adjustment, a sec ond escapement mechanism independent of the first and operatively connecting some of said operating elements with said rack operating member for displacement thereof upon actuation of respective operating elements, and other means to reoondition said second escapement mechanism to its original position of adjustment re sponsive to initial displacement of said rack operating member.

10. In a calculating machine, the combination of a member mounted for step-by-step movement responsive to operation of numeral keys, an escapement mechanism having an element shiftable be tween release and normal positions of adjuetment obstructing the movable member in a manner to permit step-wise movement upon each operation of the escapement mechanism, an actuator movable from and to normal positions of adjustment for operation of said escapement mechanism, means normally positioned to effect operative engagement between said actuator and escapement mechanism for transmitting movement from said actuator to said escapement mechanism for operation thereof, and means movable with said member for releasing said first means from operative engagement between said actuator and escapement mechanism whereby the latter is able to return to normal position of adjustment independent of the actuator.

11. In a calculating machine, the combination of a member constantly urged for move" ment in one direction, an escapement mechanism having an element shiftable between release and normal positions of adjustment operatively engaging the movable member to permit stepwise movement thereof during each operation of the escapement mechanism, an actuator movable from and to normal positions of adjustment for operation of said escapement mechanism, means positioned to establish operative engagement between said actuator and escapement mechanism for transmitting movement from said actuator to said escapement mechanism for operation thereof, and releasing means movable with initial movement of said member for releasing said first means from operative position between said actuator and escapement mechanism whereby the latter is able to return to its normal position of adjustment independent of the actuator.

12. In a calculating machine, the combination of a member constantly urged for movement in one direction during each operation of a calculator key, an escapement mechanism having an element rockable between release and normal positions of adjustment and having members which obstruct the movable member in a manner to permit stepwise movement thereof upon each operation of the escapement mechanism, an actuator movable upon each operation of the key from and to normal positions of adjustment for operation of said escapement mechanism, an interponent positioned between said actuator and said escapement mechanism for transmitting movement of said actuator into movement of said escapement mechanism for operation thereof to release the movable member for stepwise movement, and an operative connection between said member and said interponent to remove said interponent from between the actuator and the escapement mechanism upon initial movement of said member in the direction to which is urged to permit return of said escapement mechanism to normal position independent of said actuator.

13. In a calculating machine, the combination of a shiftable member constantly urged for movement in one direction, an escapement member having an element shiftable between a nor mal position obstructing movement of said mem ber in the direction to which it is urged and a position releasing said member for stepwise movement in the direction to which it is urged during operation, an actuator for operation of said escapement element mounted for movement between normal and operated positions of adjustment, an element shiftable between a normal position operatively engaging said escapement mechanism and said actuator for transmitting movement from said actuator to said escapement mechanism for operation thereof, and an operative connection between said member and element when in normal position of adjustment for releasing the operative engagement between said element and escapement mechanism upon initial movement of said member thereby to permit return of said escapement mechanism to normal position independent of said actuator.

14:. In a calculating machine, the combination of a shiftable member constantly urged for movement in one direction, an escapement member having an element mounted for rocking movement between normal positions of adjustment obstructing movement of said member and a position releasing said member in stepwise movement in a direction to which it is urged, an actuator mounted for movement between normal and operative positions of adjustment upon each operation of a key for operating said escapement mechanism, an interponent mounted for shifting movement and having one portion thereof posi tioned between said actuator and escapement mechanism for transmitting movement from said actuator to said escapement mechanism for operation thereof, and means responsive to initial movement of said member in the direction to which it is urged for shifting said interponent from between said actuator and escapement mechanism to permit release thereof for return independent of the actuator.

15. In a calculating machine, the combination of a shiftable member constantly urged for movement in one direction, an escapement member having an element mounted for rocking movement between normal positions of adjustment obstructing movement of said member and a position releasing said member in stepwise movement in a direction to which it is urged, an actuator mounted for movement between normal and operative ositions of adjustment upon each operation of a key for operating said escapement mechanism, an interponent mounted for shifting movement and having one portion positioned between said actuator and escapement mechanism for establishing an operative connection therebetween and an extension positioned operatively to be engaged by said member for movement thereof during initial movement of said movable member to displace the portion from between said actuator and escapement mechanism whereby the escapement mechanism is free to return to its original osition of adjustment independent of the actuator.

16. In a calculating machine as claimed in claim 15 in which the extension is dimer i to remain in operative engagement with the inc-vable member only for an initial por ion of its stepwise movement thereby to release the inter ponent for return to its original position of adjustment before full movement of said member has been completed.

17. In a calculating machine as claimed in cla l5 Whic 1 includes means constantly urging said escapenient mechanism toward normal position of adjustment.

13. In a calculating machine as claimed n claim 15 including means constaniy urging said interponent toward normal position of adjustment.

19. In a calculating machine, a stop pin box having pins arranged in rows therein, an esca ment mechanism for inrpa: ng step-by-st movement thereto responsive to ng of a p" so that one row of pins follows another to pr determined pin setting position, pin setting means including selectively operated pin projectors which operated p0 on are disposed in the of the oncoming ro. of pins, means respon sive to movement of the selected. pin projector to pin setting position for actuation of said escapement mechanism, and means responsive to having pins arranged rows the-em, an escapement mechanism for ".nparting step-oysters movement thereto 'esponsive to vsettin so that one row of pins follows an selectively of the oncoming rows of pins, means responsive to movement of the selective pin proect r to pin setting position for operation of aid escapement mechanism, and means responto movement of said stop pin box for 7 mg said pin projector in operated position i'rozn the path of oncoming pins.

21. In a calculating machine, a stop pin hos: having pins arranged in rows therein, an escape-- merit mechanism for imparting step-by-step movement thereto responsive to setting of a n so that one row of pins follows another to predetermined pin setting position, pin setting means including selectively operated pin projectors which in operated position are disposed in the path of the oncoming rows or" pins, means responsive to latching engagement with the op erated pin projector during movement uo operated pin setting position for actuating the pin setting position, and means responsive to said escapement mechanism for displacing the operate-d pin from the path of the oncoming rows of pins simultaneously to release the escapernent actuating means for subsequent operation.

22. In a calculating machine, a stop pin box having pins arranged in rows therein, an escapement mechanism for imparting step-by-step movement thereto responsive to setting of a pin. so that one row of pins follows another to predetermined pin setting position, pin setting means includin selectively operated pin projectors which in operated position are disposed a higher level than the remainder and substantially in the path of oncoming rows of pins, 2-. plate mounted for rocking movement etween positions for actuating the escapenient 1nechanism and return to normal position, a ledge on said pin projectors for engaging said plate when in normal position for rocking movement thereof to actuating position upon movement of a pin projector to operated position, and means responsive to operation of said escapement mechanism for rocking operated pin projector from the path of the oncoming pins simultaneously to withdraw the ledge from operating engagement W'th said. plate to release some for return to normal position.

23. A calculating machin as claimed in claim 22 which includes means constantly urging said plate to return to normal position.

24. In a c" "ulating machine having a stop pin box having 33 arranged in lOWs therein, an escapcment for enacting step by step movement thereof so that one row of pins follows another to pro-deter nined posi ion, and a pin setting unit in cooperative relation to the pin box, a plurality oi meinb rs movable to pin setting position in pin setting unit, selector actuator means controlling the movement of said members, a unive 1 plate havin guide means for the members movable i the setting unit by propulsion from any one of pi setting members in the course of movement to pin setting position, a driving connection between the universal plate and the escapernent for operating the escapenient on movement of the universal plate, and latch means on each :in setting member adapted operatively to engage the universal plate for actuation thereof on ope-ration of the member, said pin setting member being shiitable to inoperative position of adjustment responsive to movement and engagement of the pin box therewith.

References ited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

